Vertical venetian blind construction

ABSTRACT

An improved vertical blind construction including: a plurality of vanes, clamp elements detachably connected to the unhemmed ends of the vanes; horizontally oriented supporting track means, a plurality of clip elements detachably connected to said clamp elements, said clip elements having upwardly extending means engaging said track means.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventor Allen S. Woodie Mamaroneck, N.Y.

160/166A 160/178 l60/TF H m 1n 3" t "MW mk edmh 10 t h d e c a n AWR m 845 K 566 999 r 111 m 433m 0 749 h 156 m 0055 a 227 m n 233 P m m. m C d n H my N 1 Q.v 9 m m 71 0 r HZ mm 3 Ln er cuh 8OATM 0. de mm i HM AFPA 11]] 253 2247 [[[l Attorney-Charles E. Temko [54] VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCT ION ABSTRACT: An improved vertical blind construction includ- 4Clmms 12 Drawing Figs ing: a plurality of vanes, clamp elements detachably connected to the unhemmed ends of the vanes; horiz ontally oriented supporting track means, a plurality of clip elements detachably connected to said clamp elements, said clip elements having upwardly extending means engaging said track u n A m mh m L m C I0 d Ld i U hF 1 ll 2 0 5 55 I ll ALLOY IN 2 PATENTED AUGI 7 |97| sum 1 OF 2 VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION In the past it is known to have .ver'tical louvre blind construction in which the louvres or vanes areformed of flexible sheet strips composed of fabric, resin coated fabrics, so-called window shade materials and the like. Problems have been encountered in connecting the ends of the vanes to the supports therefor, and this has involved putting a foldedhem on the ends of the vane. This requires an exact detennination of the effective length of the vane, with consequent labor and expense, but it prevents adjustment of length which becomes necessary at the place of installation.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide simplified and improved structure for overcoming the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art for interconnecting flexible relatively lim'p vertical venetian blind louvres or vanes for translational and rotational movement in substantial concert and parallelism.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved low cost vertical blind construction which may present an attractive appearance to the user, and which is substantially silent in operation.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved vertical blind construction in which a secure and reliable connection is accomplished between the supporting hardware and relatively limp vanes.

Stillanother object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved vertical blind construction which may be readily assembled by those possessed of only ordinary skill, and using conventional simple hand tools.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved means for interconnecting bead chain adjusting means which joins individual vane elements for simultaneous pivotal adjustment, whereby minor dimensional variations are conveniently compensated.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters. have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 1A, a fragmentary elevation; and FIG. 1B a fragmentary section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the clip elements comprising the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan of the clip element.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the clip element.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a pin forming part of the clip element.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a metal bracket forming a part of the clip element.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the bracket.

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of a clamp element forming a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the interconnecting of adjacent vanes.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view corresponding to FIG. 5 but showing a modification.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a track element 11, an upper clip element 12, an upper clamp element 13, a vane element 14, a lower clamp element 15, a lower clip element 16, and beaded chain adustment means 17 (FIG. 9).

The track element 11 is of a conventional type, including an upper wall. 19 adapted to be secured to the frame of awindow or other opening (not shown), a pair of side walls 20, and lower walls 21 defining therebetween an elongated slot 22.

The upper clip element 12 is preferably formed as an injection molding using synthetic resinous materials. It includes a generally; horizontally disposed main body member 25 bounded by" upper and lower surfaces 26 and 27, respectively,

as well as side surface 28 and end surfaces 29. Depending from the lower surface 27, are first and second clasping fingers 30 and 31, respectively, each including a lateral member 32 at the lower end thereof, and an upwardly extending flange 33. Positioned between said first and second fingers 30-31 is a centrally disposed third finger 34, the rigidity of which is enhanced by a pair of ribs 35 interconnected by a central or medial portion 36 of diminished thickness.

Extending upwardly from the surface 26 is a pintle 37 having a terminal enlargement 38 including a camming surface 39. A hemispherically shaped bearing member 40 is centrally orificed, and maintained on the end of the pintle 37 by the enlargement 38. The lower surface 41 thereof restsupon the edges defining the slot 22 to permit the clip elements to be slid along the track element, as is well known in the art. Alsoextending upwardly from the surface 26 are a pairof studs 42 (FIG. 5) which are engageable with metallic brackets 43' a continuous extrusion of synthetic resinous material, the end shape of which is best seen in FIG. 8. Clamp 13 has first and second generally parallel sidewalls 53 and 54, respectively, in-

terconnected by an upper wall 55. The inner surface 56 of the walls 53-54 are provided with locking ridges 57 adapted to engage the outer surface of a vane element 14. Rectangular cutouts 58 extend upwardly from the lower edges of the sidewalls 53 and 54 which have aligned openings 59 and 60.

The vane element 14 is of elongated rectangular configuration, and may be of a relatively nonrigid material such as textile fabric, sheet vinyl, or shade material. The element 14 has a top edge 63, a bottom edge 65, and longitudinal edges 62.

The lower clamp element 15 and the lower clip element 16 are counterparts of the upper clip element 12 and the upper clamp element 13, except that the lower clip element requires no pintle corresponding to the pintle 37.

In order to fabricate a louvre blind, it is first necessary to determine the vertical length of the louvres or vanes 14. This opening to be treated, and making due allowance for the vertical dimensions of the track element 11, clip element 12, upper clamp element 13, lower clamp element 15, lower clip element l6, and lower brackets 43, as well as the bottom clearance to the sill (not shown). Once the vertical length of the vane 14 has thus been set, it becomes a simple matter to cut the necessary number of vanes from a strip of the desired material. No allowance need to made for hemming and waste trimming. Vane width, and intervane spacing are established in accordance with the desired amount of overlap when the blind is in closed position.

During assembly, the opposite ends of a vane element are each inserted into a clamp element, where the resiliency of the clamp element, and its gripping ridges 57 engage the vane (FIGS. 1, 1A, and 1B), and the ends of the vane are secured against disengagement from the clamp elements by the insertion of locking pins, screws, or ring nails 61 and 61' which pass through the openings 59 and 60 with the vane being punctured thereby.

Next, the clamp elements 13 and 15 are pressed upward and downward, respectively, in between the clasping fingers 30, 31 and 34 of the clip elements 12 and 16, until the clip elements are detachable retained by a snapping action. A detachably retained position of the parts is best seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B,

If the locking pins, screws or nails 61 and 61' happen to project at their sharp ends beyond the surface of the clamp ele-- in exact mutual parallel relation. Compensation is obtained by the limited movement permissable between the brackets 43 and the studs 42 with which they are engaged, and the net effect to the eye of the user is one of substantial parallelism, the studs 42 having a shiftable engagement in the elongated slots 46. In the modification shown in FIG. 10, the head 144 isv swaged to maintain the interconnection of the stud 142 with the bracket 143.

Attachment of the bead chains upon the brackets 43 is a simple and convenient operation. The width of the passage at the communicating slot 49 is less than the diameter of the bead chain links 51. The tapered portions 50 aid insertion, the chain being inserted with a snap action. Accidental disconnection of the chain from the bracket is prevented by the partial entrance of the bead segments 66 and 67 into the circular openings 48 which are only slightly smaller in diameter than the maximum diameter of the enlargements or bead segments 66 and 67. This structure and behavior is best seen in FIG. 7.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim: 1

1. Improved vertical venetian blind construction comprising: a horizontally supported track element having a longitudinally arranged slot therein defining a track, a plurality of upper clip elements, each having a main body member and a vertically positioned supporting pintle extending therefrom,

said upper clip elements each including a plurality of opposed clamping fingers, at least one of which includes a laterally extending flange, depending from said main body member, a corresponding plurality of vane clamping elements having first and second parallel walls positioned between said opposed clamping fingers, and having a recess engaged by said laterally extending flange, to limit horizontal and vertical movement therebetween, said walls having oppositely disposed fastening means for engaging a vane, and a planar nonrigid vane having an upper end positioned between the walls of said vane clamping element, to be retained by said last mentioned fastening means.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said lastmentioned means includes a plurality of locking ridges on the inner surfaces of said walls engaging the planar surfaces of said vaneelement.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in the provision of a pair of studs disposed at substantially opposite ends of said main body members, a pair of brackets, each bracket having a wall, there being an elongated slot in said wall, said slot being engaged with a stud for pivotal movement relative thereto, and limited relative movement along the axis of said slot, said brackets having means thereon for engaging a bead chain.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 3, including a pair of bead chain segments, each engaging one of said brackets.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 599 704 Dated ugust 1 7 1971 Allan S. Woodle Inventor-(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet the illustrative drawing should appear as shown on the attached sheet:

Signed and sealed this 1st day of August 1972.

(SEAL) \ttest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents RM PO-\ 050 (10-69] USCOMM-DC GOING-POD :1 us. sovzmmzur rnm'rms OFFICE 1 m9 mass-5:4, 

1. Improved vertical venetian blind construction comprising: a horizontally supported track element having a longitudinally arranged slot therein defining a track, a plurality of upper clip elements, each having a main body member and a vertically positioned supporting pintle extending therefrom, said upper clip elements each including a plurality of opposed clamping fingers, at least one of which includes a laterally extending flange, depending from said main body member, a corresponding plurality of vane clamping elements having first and second parallel walls positioned between said opposed clamping fingers, and having a recess engaged by said laterally extending flange, to limit horizontal and vertical movement therebetween, said walls having oppositely disposed fastening means for engaging a vane, and a planar nonrigid vane having an upper end positioned between the walls of said vane clamping element, to be retained by said last mentioned fastening means.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said last-mentioned means includes a plurality of locking ridges on The inner surfaces of said walls engaging the planar surfaces of said vane element.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in the provision of a pair of studs disposed at substantially opposite ends of said main body members, a pair of brackets, each bracket having a wall, there being an elongated slot in said wall, said slot being engaged with a stud for pivotal movement relative thereto, and limited relative movement along the axis of said slot, said brackets having means thereon for engaging a bead chain.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 3, including a pair of bead chain segments, each engaging one of said brackets. 